Hunter's Torn Quad

The Abyss storyline is mostly Mantell, yes. Where Mantell has one over on Russo is that when Mantell has booked on his own, he's actually turned business around; he took the IWA in Puerto Rico when it was on the outs and he was able to help it go toe-to-toe with the rival WWC promotion

And I thought Ricky Morton retiring and dying on the same day was weird... -TEW 2007

His knees are so bad he's been told a number of times by his doctor to retire. I believe he's also been told that he's going to need replacement knee surgery at some point down the road. As for his heart, on a previous edition of Figure Four Daily, Sims said that there was some informal talk that Rey's heart was in 'terrible shape'.

On the latest Figure Four Daily, Lucha expert Steve Sims said that Rey's involvement in the upcoming WWE run in Mexico is being used to test out how he's knees can hold up to being in the ring, so WWE know how much Rey can do and can then plan an appropriate push.

I think Joe just about lost his chance at becoming the TNA champion, at least a serious, non-transitional champion, after his 'bad booking' comment in ROH.

Even if they want him to stay, TNA have shown themselves to be petty enough that they might let Joe leave anyway because he turned down the offer.

The WWE would have fallen in size anyway. After a few of the early patches, TEW was tweaked to make it harder for a promotion to achieve and maintain growth. I've had a few crazy things happen too; Ricky Morton retired and died on the same day at one point.

Kid freaks out on finding out Vince 'died'

I'm trying to forget about their "exciting" feud with N.W.O. 2000. Which pretty much culminated in then U.S. Champion and #2 heel in the company, Jeff Jarrett jobbing to George "The Animal" Steele, Tito Santana, and Jimmy Snuka all in one episode of Nitro. And Jarrett getting a concussion which majorly screwed up a PPV the following weekend.

It's the undercard guys most likely to leave because they're the ones most unhappy. For a lot of them, it's not just about exposure or the money, but about being able to wrestle the matches they want, which they haven't had a chance to do in TNA for a long time. Not only that, but some of them might even look at leaving TNA and going back to the Indy scene as something of an investment in their future. With TNA, they're greatly limited in the number of dates they can work and the ring time they get, and that doesn't help a worker improve. However, outside of TNA, and being able to work all the Indy shows they want and in long matches, they'll get the ring time and experience they need to improve.

We might get the often teased Lashley heel turn out of all this.

No Warrior. And now the forensics expert they've been having on thinks the guy who edited Benoit's Wikipedia entry may have gotten information direct from Benoit, in one of the text messages he sent out.

Full Spoilers: Impact 7/5 *TNA Tag Team champions Team 3D defeated AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels and LAX after a 3D on Daniels. *Jim Cornette joined Don West and Mike Tenay at the announcer's table. *Christian Cage and Tomko came out. Cage was carrying his director's megaphone again. He said it's a symbol for a director and discusses the things he's produced in TNA - ratings, superstars he's made in the company. He asks Cornette who is Chris Harris to be wrestling Cage at Victory Road. He said Cage will be a superstar just for wrestling him at Victory Road. Cage says he wants back in the main event picture. Cornette gets a mic and said that Harris was going to shatter TNA's glass ceiling, using Cage's head as a battering ram. Cornette asks Cage if he made TNA or was it TNA that made Christian Cage. Cornette says Abyss is still looking to get his hands on Cage. Cage says that he's right here. Abyss' music begins to play so Cage heads to the back. *Gail Kim pinned Jackie Moore to win a three-way also featuring Ms. Brooks. After the match, they both attacked Kim. Eric Young hit the ring to make the save. Jackie jumped on Eric's back and he flipped her over. Brooks did the same, with the same results. Robert Roode jumped Eric. *TNA champion Kurt Angle came to the ring with both the TNA and IWGP title belts. He said that he just got back from Japan, winning another World title after making Brock Lesnar tap. He discusses an eight man tag match next week on Impact, saying it's going to be the biggest night in TNA history. Kurt Angle's Champion of Champions night. He said it's better to be remembered when you are still alive then when you are dead. He said that he was the one that put TNA on the map and that they've had their highest ratings in the last few weeks. He says that everyone in the locker room wants to be just like Kurt Angle. Team 3D comes out. Ray mocks Angle saying, "Blah blah blah blah" as they come to the ring. He said that he doesn't know where to start with Angle, but he's not the know all and end all within TNA. Ray says that it's about all the wrestlers in TNA, not just Kurt Angle. Angle tries to hit Ray but Devon nails Angle. He goes for a table but Samoa Joe hits the ring. He brawls with 3D. Angle grabs Joe from behind and hits an Olympic Slam through a table. They may have to sweeten the crowd noise for this segment as the live crowd was chanting for LAX and turning on 3D. Xplosion: *James Storm pinned Senshi with a superkick. Impact 7/12: *Abyss pinned Lance Hoyt with a Black Hole Slam. Christy Hemme looked awesome. [Note from Mike: When doesn't she?]. Abyss goes under the ring and grabs a bag of glass. Basham comes out to pull Lance Hoyt from the ring. Voodoo Kin Mafia hit the ringside area and battle with Hoyt and Basham. Christy is left in the ring with Abyss. Tomko and AJ Styles jump Abyss before he can do anything. Sting's music plays and he appears behind Tomko and Styles, then clears the ring. Sting takes the mic and says they'll see Tomko and Styles at Victory Road. He hands Abyss the mic and Abyss says, "Tomko, Styles, three days until Doomsday." *Kaz defeated Havoc and Martyr in a qualifying match for the 10 Man Ultimate X match at Victory Road after pinning Martyr. After the match, Raven hit Kaz from behind with the kendo stick. All three of them beat down Kaz. Xplosion: *Jay Lethal pinned Petey Williams. Before the match, Sonjay Dutt came out and tossed flower pedals around the ring. Impact 7/12: *TNA & IWGP champion Kurt Angle, TNA X-Division champion Samoa Joe and TNA Tag Team champions Team 3D defeated AJ Styles & Christian Cage & Tomko & Robert Roode. Angle stayed out of the ring most of the match and had words with Joe. Brother Ray was trying to get them to focus on the match. Joe got Styles up for the Muscle Buster but Angle made a blind tag in. Angle covered AJ for the pin after the buster. Angle left the ring, leaving 3D and Joe in the ring.

"No more steroids, guys"

Nobody, outside of the sensationalists, are saying it was solely down to steroids. But it would be foolish to rule out the possibility that steroids could have played some part in this, given the effects they're known to have.

That was the doctor who was the 'go to guy' for drugs.

They've never been under the spotlight as part of a double murder/suicide investigation before, with the media looking to pin it on 'roid rage'. On it's own, no, wrestlers being on steroids isn't a big deal as far as it being news, but when you've got a major ongoing story like a double murder/suicide, then WWE trying to play down the role of steroids in a manner which can only highlight how poor their testing policy actually is, it doesn't exactly make them look good to a public who already have a low opinion of them to begin with.

--If the revelation that Chris Benoit was getting ten months worth of steroids every three to four weeks from Dr. Phil Astin is accurate, it is beyond devastating for WWE. U.S. attorney David Nahmias reported that on average, Benoit was getting a ten month supply of steroids every three to four week during a period from May 4, 2006, and May 9, 2007, from Dr. Astin. The April 10, 2007, drug test that Benoit passed was right in the middle of that period, which is why this charge is the most devastating to the company since the deaths themselves. Whether fair or not, to the public, it is a complete credibility loss when it comes to the drug policy that the company can't afford at this time. And quite frankly, since Benoit was regularly tested during this entire one year period, it is impossible to have confidence in the drug policy with the release of this information. Benoit was off for several months in 2006 and likely not tested during this period, but he should have been tested at least four times minimum during a period it would appear he was taking heavy doses of steroids. As noted in this week's issue, he and his wife were arguing over his increased use of steroids at the same time he was subject to a drug testing policy. The announcement that Benoit passed his 4/10 steroid test, even if he did, is one that can't hold up to public opinion with the revelation in this indictment, because it covers a period well into the Wellness policy. A key point of this is unlike with Balco, where they were using designer drugs that could beat the tests, Astin was prescribing Benoit regular steroids, so either the testing is incredibly flawed, Benoit had a way to easily beat the tests, or the tests themselves were a sham. I strongly believe the latter is not the case, but I also believe the latter will be the conclusion most will come to. This is the first time when I truly fear that wrestling as we know it not only will be undergoing great changes, but that as bad as Vince McMahon's reputation is in some circles, and even with his history of rebounding from negatives, this will tarnish it to a level that he may never live to fully turn around. There will be a far increased number of cries in the media over the next week, which have already started, to do something about the industry. Between the advertisers, sponsors, and those action figures with the muscular physiques, this is not a story going away soon. --Astin was indicted on seven federal counts of distributing painkillers in an illegal manner, as in for reasons other than the treatment of disease. The names of people he is accused of doing this with were not released. It is not known whether any of the people named in the sealed indictment are pro wrestlers, but it is known Chris Benoit is not one of them. The raid of Astin's office included looking at medical records to see if he was appropriately prescribing steroids to Benoit. The indictment regarded prescribing drugs like percoset, vidoprofen, xanax, lorcet and adderall to men with initials M.J. and O.G. --Prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of all property and proceeds Astin obtained through his conduct if he is convicted. --Prosecutor Scott Ballard of Fayette County stated he currently has no plans on filing any charges against anyone involved in the case. --In the second raid of Dr Astin's office, Federal agents removed huge amounts of material including filled up boxes, computer and entire file cabinets. --WWE told Newsday today that it will make any improvements necessary in its Wellness policy, but didn't give any details. The company today said its policy is one of the most aggressive in sports and that it is unique for an entertainment company. They said the policy sends a clear message the company finds the abuse of drugs and steroids to be unacceptable. However, based on who they push, one could say there are more than just mixed messages out there. --Even worse for WWE, Ballard said there are reports that contradict the information Daniel Benoit was suffering from Fragile X syndrome. Ballard said a source with access to Daniel's medical records shows no mention of any mental or physical impairment. Reports from his teacher also contradicted the claim, saying he was prepared this year to go into first grade on par with the other students in his class. Among the more notable of the latest Benoit newsbits.

I believe so, yes.

She'll probably think he was the guy who played Gomez Adams in the original Adams Family show.

The HHH/Orton match at Summerslam might not be happening at all. HHH is of the opinion that Orton is the strongest heel on Raw right now, and if he (HHH) comes back and pins him then it's not the right thing for business. HHH is pushing for Orton to take the title from Cena, believing Cena doesn't the need the belt and also thinking that Cena would be more over without it because he wouldn't get the backlash from being champion. HHH also thinks there is more money with Cena chasing Orton rather than defending against Orton. The feeling now is that HHH/Orton will take place at Survivor Series or Mania. -Observer.

Latest Observer says the current plan is for Cena/Lashley and Edge/Rey to headline.